Forecast today: Rain
Snow reliability and the lift system have improved significantly in recent years thanks to good investment in new infrastructure. The skiing is mostly geared towards beginner and intermediate skiers and snowboarders, but you can clock up some good vertical and on the upper slopes there is some decent off piste after fresh snowfall.
Most people come here on packages and stay in big hotels with their own bars, restaurants and shops, but there is also a large selection of quirkier and lively small bars, shops and eating places. Nevertheless, the resort’s beautiful woodland setting gives it a real degree of Alpine charm.
Outside the main base at the Hotel Rila is the beginners area, conveniently located on gentle slopes right outside all of the main facilities. From here you can then go in two directions – either up the old gondola towards the summit, or on the Sitnyakovo quad chairlift. The latter is home to some gentle cruising, as well as the resort’s night skiing offering.
More confident skiers and boarders will want to catch the gondola towards the summit, where the high altitude Markudjik ski area offers snowsure slopes and spectacular views over the Bulgarian mountains. The trickiest runs are in the Yastrebetz sector, where a high speed quad serves an excellent pod of red runs that drop 600 vertical metres each time. There is some decent off piste terrain high up, but thick trees restrict a lot of the access off the sides of the slopes.
As mentioned, most people stay in large hotels on the hill and as a result there are limited bar and restaurant options, but some have popped up in recent years. Most of these hotels are great value and well appointed, several too are specifically geared towards families, which adds to the appeal of this resort as a family holiday alternative to the Alps. That being said, there are some lively bars and on sunny days, at weekends and during the holidays, après ski can kick off – especially with such low prices.
Away from the slopes, winter walking is on offer, as is cross country skiing – there is a nice network of trails winding their way through the trees as Bistritsa. Many of the hotels have pools and spas, providing the perfect way to unwind after a long day on the slopes.
Fri 22 Nov | Sat 23 Nov | Sun 24 Nov | Mon 25 Nov | Tue 26 Nov | Wed 27 Nov | Thu 28 Nov | Fri 29 Nov | Sat 30 Nov | Sun 1 Dec | |||||||||||||||||||||
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AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Weather | Freezing fog |
Light snow |
Snow shower | Mainly fair |
Generally clear |
Mainly fair | Clear skies |
Clear skies |
Clear skies | Mainly fair |
Mainly fair |
Mainly fair | Generally clear |
Clear skies |
Mainly fair | Mainly fair |
Generally clear |
Generally clear | Generally clear |
Mainly fair |
Mainly fair | Broken clouds |
Light snow shwr |
Light snow | Light snow |
Light snow |
Light snow shwr | Snow shower |
Snow shower |
Snow shower |
Wind | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Snow expected | 0.2 cm | 3.5 cm | 9.7 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0.3 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 1.4 cm | 3.6 cm | 1.3 cm | 3.2 cm | 4.9 cm | 5.9 cm | 12.4 cm | 7.4 cm |
Max temp | -0.8°c | -0.9°c | 0.5°c | -12.7°c | -15.7°c | -14.9°c | -7.5°c | -7.9°c | -5.3°c | -0.4°c | -2.2°c | -2.8°c | -0.1°c | -1.9°c | -2.2°c | -0.5°c | -1.6°c | -2.5°c | 0.5°c | -0.9°c | -1.4°c | 0°c | -2.2°c | -1.9°c | -3.2°c | -5.9°c | -4.8°c | -3.8°c | -5.8°c | -5.4°c |
Min temp | -2.4°c | -2.6°c | -0.9°c | -15.7°c | -17°c | -16.3°c | -12.4°c | -10.9°c | -8.5°c | -2.5°c | -5.2°c | -4.5°c | -2.9°c | -5.4°c | -4.1°c | -2.6°c | -5.1°c | -4.4°c | -2.3°c | -4.2°c | -3.2°c | -2.2°c | -4.6°c | -3.1°c | -5.9°c | -7.7°c | -6.9°c | -6.1°c | -8.8°c | -7.9°c |
Feels like temp | -8.2°c | -9.1°c | -7.4°c | -21.9°c | -25.9°c | -26°c | -17.8°c | -12.5°c | -8.5°c | -5.6°c | -2.2°c | -4.5°c | -2.9°c | -5.2°c | -7.4°c | -5.6°c | -1.6°c | -4.4°c | -2.3°c | -0.9°c | -3.2°c | -2°c | -5.8°c | -6.8°c | -8.6°c | -9.5°c | -10.6°c | -6.1°c | -5.8°c | -7.9°c |
AM | PM | Night | |
Weather | Freezing fog |
Light snow |
Snow shower |
Wind | |||
Snow expected | 0.2 cm | 3.5 cm | 9.7 cm |
Max temp | -0.8°c | -0.9°c | 0.5°c |
Min temp | -2.4°c | -2.6°c | -0.9°c |
Feels like temp | -8.2°c | -9.1°c | -7.4°c |
AM | PM | Night | |
Weather | Mainly fair |
Generally clear |
Mainly fair |
Wind | |||
Snow expected | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm |
Max temp | -12.7°c | -15.7°c | -14.9°c |
Min temp | -15.7°c | -17°c | -16.3°c |
Feels like temp | -21.9°c | -25.9°c | -26°c |
Fri 22 Nov | Sat 23 Nov | Sun 24 Nov | Mon 25 Nov | Tue 26 Nov | Wed 27 Nov | Thu 28 Nov | Fri 29 Nov | Sat 30 Nov | Sun 1 Dec | |||||||||||||||||||||
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AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Weather | Rain |
Heavy rain |
Rain shower | Light snow shwr |
Clear skies |
Clear skies | Clear skies |
Clear skies |
Clear skies | Clear skies |
Clear skies |
Clear skies | Generally clear |
Mainly fair |
Generally clear | Generally clear |
Generally clear |
Mainly fair | Generally clear |
Generally clear |
Mainly fair | Occasional rain |
Light rain |
Light rain | Occasional rain |
Rain/Snow shower |
Snow shower | Light rain/snow |
Light rain/snow |
Snow shower |
Wind | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Snow expected | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0.2 cm | 1.2 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0.5 cm | 3.7 cm | 0.1 cm | 0.2 cm | 1.5 cm |
Max temp | 9.3°c | 8°c | 7.2°c | -0.4°c | -0.4°c | -4.8°c | 3.9°c | 3.9°c | -1.7°c | 7°c | 7°c | -0.3°c | 6.8°c | 6.8°c | 0.6°c | 8.6°c | 8.6°c | 2.9°c | 9.1°c | 9.1°c | 3.8°c | 7.4°c | 7.4°c | 3.8°c | 5°c | 5°c | 0.3°c | 4.5°c | 4.5°c | -0.6°c |
Min temp | 4°c | 7.1°c | 1.2°c | -2.9°c | -4.8°c | -6°c | -5.4°c | -1.9°c | -2.5°c | -2.3°c | -0.3°c | -1.6°c | -2°c | 0.6°c | 0°c | 0.5°c | 2.9°c | 1.7°c | 1.3°c | 3.8°c | 2.6°c | 2.4°c | 3.8°c | 2°c | 0.3°c | 0.3°c | -1.3°c | -2.3°c | -0.6°c | -1.8°c |
Feels like temp | 1.4°c | 6°c | 5.4°c | -2.9°c | -4.2°c | -4.8°c | -5.4°c | 3.4°c | -1.9°c | -2.3°c | 6.3°c | -0.3°c | -2°c | 6.3°c | 0.6°c | 0.5°c | 8.1°c | 2.7°c | 1.2°c | 8.7°c | 3.6°c | 2.3°c | 7.1°c | 3.6°c | 0.3°c | 4.6°c | 0.3°c | -2.3°c | 4.1°c | -0.6°c |
AM | PM | Night | |
Weather | |||
Wind | |||
Snow expected | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0.2 cm |
Max temp | 9.3°c | 8°c | 7.2°c |
Min temp | 4°c | 7.1°c | 1.2°c |
Feels like temp | 1.4°c | 6°c | 5.4°c |
AM | PM | Night | |
Weather | |||
Wind | |||
Snow expected | 1.2 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm |
Max temp | -0.4°c | -0.4°c | -4.8°c |
Min temp | -2.9°c | -4.8°c | -6°c |
Feels like temp | -2.9°c | -4.2°c | -4.8°c |
Snowfall | Next 3 days | 15.1 cm |
---|---|---|
Depths | Upper piste depth | 105 cm |
Lower piste depth | No information | |
Snow conditions | Snow quality | No information |
Lifts | Lifts open | No information |
Resort opening date | Fri 13 Dec 2024 | |
Resort closing date | Sun 06 Apr 2025 |
Our Snow Overviews are updated bi-weekly between the start of December and early May every season, providing summaries of snowfall, weather, avalanche risk and other noteworthy meteorological events to help you prepare for your skiing holiday. Check back next winter to stay up-to-date on the latest weather happenings in resort.
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